Fastening means



March 2, 1965 c. J. GRETTER 3,171,232

FASTENING MEANS Original Filed Sept. 24, 1958 INVENTOR.

lo BY ClemenJ, Gfft Mw @Gyms Wm United States Patent OfficeVv 3,171,232 Patented Mar. 2 1965 3,171,232 FASTENING MEANS Clemens J. Gretter, Seir Hill Road, Wilton, Conn. Continuation of application Ser. No. 763,124, Sept. 24, 1958. This application ct. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 145,531 1 Claim. (Cl. 50-481) 'Ihe present invention relates to fastening means for securing a plurality of semi-rigid panel members to a frame structure such as studding or lathing to form a side Wall, partition, ceiling and the like.

This application s a continuation of application Serial No. 763,124, filed September 24, 1958, in the name of Clemens J. Gretter and now abandoned.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a unitary fastening means that is effective throughout the length of the entire edge of each panel as well as throughout the extent of the edges of successive aligned panels in order to insure perfect alignment of succeeding courses of panels.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a fastening means that will provide a continuous rigid locating surface extending throughout the edge dimension of each panel as well as succeeding aligned panels in order to maintain a rigid linear surface against which successive aligned panels abut.

In one aspect of the invention the fastener is made substantially equal to the length of the panels to be applied to a wall or the like. The fastener may be formed from a strip of metal or similar material so as to have a iange means along one edge and tabs extending at right angles to the strip or central flange along the other edge, the tabs or teeth extending alternately in opposite directions and being in a plane substantially parallel to the base ange means. The tab means can be adapted to penetrate and to hold courses of the semi-rigid panel material. Cutouts can be formed in the strip material central flange so as to permit fastening means, such as nails, to be driven in from either side at the centerline of the strip. The material from the cutouts can be bent in the opposite direction from the base ange means so as to form an auxiliary flange. Preferably, the strip constituting the centrally disposed wall or flange is of substantially constant thickness.

The alternate teeth or tabs may be formed by slitting and bending slit or serrated edge portions in opposite directions at right angles to the main body of the strip to form blades adapted to penetrate the edges of succeeding panels of semi-rigid panel material.

The above, other objects and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following specilication and accompanying drawing which is merely exemplary.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is a perspective View of part of a Wall construction embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken substantially along line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a vew of a portion of a strip of sheet metal to which the principles of the invention may be applied; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view of an intersection of two right angularly disposed walls.

Referring to the drawings, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to the interior wall of a building having the usual studs 10 at substantially equal intervals. A strip of sheet metal may be formed with base ange means 11 and 11A bent at right angles to the strip of sheet metal forming a central flange means 12 having continuity throughout the entire length of the strip metal fastener.

The edge of the strip metal sheet opposite that which forms the flange means 11 may be serrated, forming saw-like teeth 13. It will be noted that the bottoms 14 of the teeth 13 are spaced a substantial distance from the point 15 where flange means 11 joins the central ange 12, thereby providing a rigid linear surface of substantial area extending througout the length of the fastening strip.

Holes 16 may be provided and centered between ange means 11 and 11A for nailing the flange means to the studs of a building preparatory to fastening a course of semi-rigid panels thereto. The apertures in Web 12 a1- low nailing or fastening at centered holes 16 in base 11 from either side of central ange or web 12.

In employing the fastener of this invention, a first vertical course 17 may be laid at one corner of a room and held in place, at the corner, by a strip fastener of this invention as shown in FIG 4. The flange means 11A on one side of the central web 12 can be slid between the course 17 and the stud 10. The ange means 11 on the other side of web 12 is exposed and can be nailed from the left side, iFIG. l, to hold the rst course in place. Succeeding courses 17 may then be applied, and at the exposed edge of each successive vertical course another strip fastener of this invention may be nailed. The flange means 11 and 11A on each side of the web 12 maintain the outer surfaces of all panels flush.

Although the various features of the new and improved fastener for semi-rigid panel material have been shown and described in detail to fully disclose one embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that numerous changes may be made in such details and certain features may be used without others Without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A fastener for semi-rigid panel material and the like comprising strip material of a length substantially equal to the length of a course of panels to be applied to a wall to be covered, said strip material having a central wall ange means of substantially a constant height; base flange means extending substantially at right angles in only one direction from one edge of said central wall flange means and forming a continuous uninterrupted base along one side of said central flange means for its entire length; a plurality of portions punched out from said central wall flange means, spaced at intervals throughout its entire length, and extending at right angles to said central flange means, in the opposite direction from, and in the same plane as said base flange means; walls refining holes at the junction between the base flange means and said punched-out portions and lying within the plane of said central wall flange means, said holes facilitating the insertion of nails therethrough from either side of said central wall ange means; and means formed along the entire length of the longitudinal edge of said central wall ange means opposite that containing said base iiange means, said last mentioned means 3a 4 comprising a plurality of means alternately extending 1,870,011 8/32 Johnson 50--481 X in opposite directions from said central Wall ange means 1,879,457 9/ 32 Paulsen 50-317 X throughout its entire length, within a plane substantially 1,974,819 9/ 34 Koerner 50-396 X parallel to that including said base flange means, and 1,984,028 12/ 34 MacLeod 50-405 adapted to penetrate the edge of succeeding courses of 5 said semi-rigid panel material. Y FOREIGN PATENTS 2,2 l 5 References Cited bythe Examiner 95 99 1/ 6 Germany UNITED STATES PATENTS JACOB L. NACKENOFEPrimmy Examiner. 932,197 8/09 Waite 50-482 10 WILLIAM I. MUSHAKE, Examiner.

UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,171,232 March Z, 1965 Clemens J. Gretter It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as correctedbelow.

Column Z, line 57, for "refining" read defining Signed and sealed this 19th day of October 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Altesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

